as seen on tv
Senator
General Keith Alexander testified yesterday that “dozens” of terror attacks have been "foiled" by vacuuming up millions of Americans’ phone calls daily.
Um . . .okay. We know about that one in 2009. Any others you’d care to be specific on? And more importantly, were there any arrests, or did the bad guys get away?
I am intrigued by the use of the odd term “foiled”. That means “parried, frustrated, or prevented”. So how exactly does this work, General? You hear something suspicious on the phone, go to make an arrest, but nobody is there? And when a bomb DOESN’T go off, you place a check mark in the “foiled again” column, and celebrate by going out for a beer?
That’s sort of like claiming victory on the battlefield, when none of the enemy are actually killed, right? You got that metric from Vietnam, I bet.
I’m not saying there COULDN’T have been “dozens” of terror plots foiled. I’m just asking for something a bit more believable to go on here. Given that LAST month, in the wake of the Boston Marathon tragedy, some ex inmate with a snake tattoo, living in a rural single wide, was arrested for having a rifle and a pipe bomb, and the government made it front page news that a major terror plot had been averted . . . ? Since there seems to be a propensity to strike up the band in the most picayune possible terror circumstances. .. where are the arrests in the “foiled” cases, General?
No matter, polls show that 62% of Americans feel having the government intercept their phone calls, read their emails, and analyze their tweets is a fair tradeoff (rhymes with Madoff) to prevent the next Boston Marathon bombing. Or guy with a snake tattoo from . . . well, what WAS he going to do? So the general’s testimony concering foiled is as moot as it is a hoot.
Next up – polls show that since 62% of Americans “lean secular”, and are willing to dispense with the freedom of religion clause in the bill of rights, we can dispense with those protections. And regarding freedom of speech? First tell us what you want to talk about, then we’ll have the government determine if that’s allowed. Raise your hand if you’re okay with these erosions. Oops better not - that might get you audited.
Put me on the record as "not okay. It's like the Who sang at the superbowl – “Meet the new boss – same as the old boss - we won’t get foiled again”. (or words to that effect)
Full disclosure – I’m willing to consider surrendering my 3rd amendment rights. You know – the one that says I cannot be forced to “billet troops in my domicile”. I'm willing to possibly surrender this right. It would depend on the actual soldier though. If he’s single, drug and disease free, no snake tats, and has his own assault rifle, we should talk.
Um . . .okay. We know about that one in 2009. Any others you’d care to be specific on? And more importantly, were there any arrests, or did the bad guys get away?
I am intrigued by the use of the odd term “foiled”. That means “parried, frustrated, or prevented”. So how exactly does this work, General? You hear something suspicious on the phone, go to make an arrest, but nobody is there? And when a bomb DOESN’T go off, you place a check mark in the “foiled again” column, and celebrate by going out for a beer?
That’s sort of like claiming victory on the battlefield, when none of the enemy are actually killed, right? You got that metric from Vietnam, I bet.
I’m not saying there COULDN’T have been “dozens” of terror plots foiled. I’m just asking for something a bit more believable to go on here. Given that LAST month, in the wake of the Boston Marathon tragedy, some ex inmate with a snake tattoo, living in a rural single wide, was arrested for having a rifle and a pipe bomb, and the government made it front page news that a major terror plot had been averted . . . ? Since there seems to be a propensity to strike up the band in the most picayune possible terror circumstances. .. where are the arrests in the “foiled” cases, General?
No matter, polls show that 62% of Americans feel having the government intercept their phone calls, read their emails, and analyze their tweets is a fair tradeoff (rhymes with Madoff) to prevent the next Boston Marathon bombing. Or guy with a snake tattoo from . . . well, what WAS he going to do? So the general’s testimony concering foiled is as moot as it is a hoot.
Next up – polls show that since 62% of Americans “lean secular”, and are willing to dispense with the freedom of religion clause in the bill of rights, we can dispense with those protections. And regarding freedom of speech? First tell us what you want to talk about, then we’ll have the government determine if that’s allowed. Raise your hand if you’re okay with these erosions. Oops better not - that might get you audited.
Put me on the record as "not okay. It's like the Who sang at the superbowl – “Meet the new boss – same as the old boss - we won’t get foiled again”. (or words to that effect)
Full disclosure – I’m willing to consider surrendering my 3rd amendment rights. You know – the one that says I cannot be forced to “billet troops in my domicile”. I'm willing to possibly surrender this right. It would depend on the actual soldier though. If he’s single, drug and disease free, no snake tats, and has his own assault rifle, we should talk.
